Episode
#356 - 1980: The Beginning of Modern Metal
- Podcast
- Metal Nerdery Podcast
- Published
- Jun 18, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 5665
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
The year is 1980. The U.S. National Debt is a paltry $900 Billion, the word “yuppie” appears for the first time in print, the Pac-Man videogame is released in arcades everywhere, Mount St. Helens explodes in Washington state, and Cable News Network (also known as CNN) becomes a thing. In the world of metal, Iron Maiden release their self-titled debut album, Black Sabbath reinvent themselves with new frontman Ronnie James Dio on vocals and release Heaven and Hell, and AC/DC regroup after the tragic loss of Bon Scott and release Back In Black featuring new vocalist Brian Johnson, an album that would go on to sell more than 40 million copies and become one of the biggest selling albums of all time. Just as time and technology continued marching forward, the hard rock of the 70’s continued its evolution into a new direction with a faster, heavier, and more aggressive sound beginning in 1980 that would become even faster, heavier, and more aggressive throughout the 80’s. Get ready for a taste of “Something Haunted” from the “Necronomidonkeykongimicon” and find out why “you gotta watch for the flops” if you want to get in the spirit and enjoy the FIFA World Cup. Discover which dinosaur is “the biggest dinosaur”, understand the rules and regulations regarding “flip-flops”, find out which type of rooster has the best breasts, and be sure to “have a nice June” when you JOIN US as we dive headlong into the year that gave us the birth of modern metal with THE YEAR OF OUR RIFF LORD – 1980. Visit www.metalnerdery.com/podcast for more on this episode Help Support Metal Nerdery https://www.patreon.com/metalnerderypodcast Leave us a Voicemail to be played on a future episode: 980-666-8182 Metal Nerdery Tees and Hoodies – metalnerdery.com/merchand kindly leave us a review and/or rating…